At Breathing Room, we are passionate about upholding the integrity of the yoga tradition by educating our community about the in-depth and diverse teachings of the full eight limbs of yoga. Our Living Yoga Teacher Training is designed to immerse trainees in deep education of all areas of yoga, not just asana or physical postures.
Each session incorporates multiple teachings, from asana and anatomy to philosophy, pranayama, subtle body and meditation. We place a large emphasis on learning the yamas and niyamas, which are 10 guidelines or codes of conduct for living in relationship to self and to others. These are the first two limbs and the foundation of the yoga system, from which all other understanding flows and builds.
We also focus deeply on the chakra system as a way of not only learning about the body and its foundational energies, but also of healing and understanding the self more deeply. The study of the chakras sets the foundation for sequencing the asana poses into clear and creative classes.
Together we will learn the history of yoga, from overviews dating back thousands of years to more recent shifts of how yoga has developed in our western culture over the last 100 years. We will talk about the importance of recognizing these changes, the value of teaching in a way that honors yoga’s roots, and the harmful impacts of cultural appropriation. We will also explore the equity and inequity that shows up in modern yoga communities and discuss the impacts on all of us in creating true cultures for belonging and connected communities.
By the end of the training you will have a deep understanding of the eight limbs of yoga and how they can impact you and your students’ lives. You will also gain a strong foundation and understanding of the body, its anatomy and how to sequence a full yoga class consisting of mindful movement, philosophy, breathwork and meditation. After the training, all graduates will have the opportunity to teach Karmic Community Classes (KCCs) at Breathing Room to further develop your teaching skills. The KCC program is specifically designed to give our trainees teaching experience immediately after graduating, while also offering financially accessible donation-based classes to the community.
Breathing Room’s Living Yoga Teacher Training invites you with open arms to this incredibly life impacting journey of the self, through the self, by the self, with a passionate staff of teachers and a group of peers. We call it the Living Yoga Teaching Training because you are indeed learning how to live these practices, not just teach them. Through this process we are truly opened to the power and abundance of the self that yoga always intended for the practitioner to know and step into.This is a 200-hour Yoga Alliance certified training.
Teacher trainees receive 50% off class cards/memberships during the training. Graduates qualify for community teaching opportunities at Breathing Room immediately upon certification.
CURRICULUM
Techniques, Training and Practice in:
• Asana
• Pranayama
• Meditation
• The Chakra System
• Sequencing
Teaching Methodology:
• Communication skills: group dynamic, time management, establishment of boundaries and priorities
• How to address specific needs of individuals to the degree possible in a group setting
• Principles of demonstration, observation and assistance
• Teaching styles
• Qualities of a teacher
• The student learning process
• Business aspects of teaching yoga
• Responsibility, respect understand appreciation vs. appropriation
• Sequencing and theming a class
Anatomy and Physiology:
• Human physical anatomy
• Bodily systems, organs etc.
• Energy anatomy
• Application to yoga practice
• Benefits, contraindication, healthy movement patterns
Yoga Philosophy, Lifestyle, and Ethics for Yoga Teachers:
• Study of The Yoga Sutras of Pantajali
• In-depth study of the Yamas and Niyams
• Concepts of Dharma
• Study of The Four Agreements
• Ethics for yoga teachers and practitioners
• Understanding the value of teaching yoga as a service and being in service to others
Practicum:
• Practice teaching
• Receiving and giving feedback
• Observing others teaching
• Assisting students
LEAD TEACHERS
Margot Broom
Margot’s style of teaching is influenced by more than 20 years of devotion to her personal yoga practice and education. She holds over 900 hours of training in a wide variety of yoga philosophy and styles. "Yoga has been such a deep part of my evolution as a human. For someone that was not raised within any one religion, I always yearned for the community that houses of worship offer their communities. I felt compelled to create a space for all people to come and feel at home and welcomed regardless of their religion, race, gender or sexual orientation; a space that can create a container for self inquiry and discovery amongst others who are doing the same."
Tobie Schuerfeld
Tobie was introduced to yoga in her early twenties but didn't start a dedicated practice until her 29th birthday when her mother brought her to Kripalu Center in the Berkshires. Since then she has completed her 200hr certification in an Iyengar influenced style of yoga. She has learned from teachers such as Rodney Yee, Seane Corn, Rolf Gates, Baron Baptiste and Stephen Cope. Tobie teaches a vinyasa style of yoga with an attention to form and alignment. She believes that form and alignment are the keys to freedom in the body and freedom in the breath. Being a massage therapist for the last 10 years and receiving her masters in clinical nutrition two years ago, Tobie has a well rounded understanding of the body. Her classes are challenging and fun while giving the students an awareness that they are ultimately their own teacher and can guide their practice to fit their needs.
PARTICIPATING TEACHERS
Verred Hamenahem
Verred’s dedication to personal practice inspires her teaching which is grounded in her daily focus. In class, we use asana and pranayama as invitations to deepen awareness while building presence, agility, and resilience. This practice asks us to introspect, building a heightened sense of awareness from which we can live our fullest lives as our most authentic selves. When we work to first become stable we can move more easily from a place of equanimity and integrity. This is as much a metaphor for life as much as it is a tool for asana. I am very inspired by the Katonah Yoga method in which we use maps, measure and metaphor to orient ourselves, understand our inner world and the outer dimension. Mindful awareness gives us freedom of choice in how we think, move, and live. We work to create a balance between stable strength and deep, rest full release. My studies and practice in Yoga Nidra have shown me the importance of rest, how vital it is to our life force and fortitude. I hope sharing these practices allows others to uncover the stillness and stability within themselves.
Khushi Malthora
Khushi lives in both India and the US. She received her Yoga training at the Himalayan Institute, founded by Swami Rama and has a dual Masters in Social Work and in Public Health. Currently she helps with a holistic education program in the Garhwal Himalayas, India (apvschool.org), runs a mindful eco-tourism business which takes people into nature and into self (simplyhimalaya.com), and helps with teachers trainings and workshops. She is also a Vipassana meditator. “My yoga is rooted in the ancient classical hatha tradition. When I teach, I feel the wisdom moving through me in an intuitive way, and I can truly say that it is not me that is teaching, but the lineage of the yogis themselves. I feel blessed that nature has gifted me with the ability to share wisdom.”
REQUIREMENTS & PREREQUISITES FOR TEACHER TRAINING
All incoming teacher trainees must have the following practices and awareness of yoga in order to create and maintain the optimal learning and teaching environment for all participating in the training:
A minimum of two years of weekly yoga practice.
A basic awareness of yoga as a larger practice other than just the physical movement.
A completed application
A letter of recommendation from an asana, meditation or philosophy teacher.
An understanding that teacher training is a mental, physical and emotional experience that may stir up energy and or agitation in these areas of your life.
SCHEDULE
Weekend 1: June 24-26
Weekend 2: July 9-10
10 Day intensive July 15-24
Weekend 3: July 30-31
- 10 day schedule runs 8am-12pm & 2pm-6pm
- Weekend schedule: Friday 5:30pm-8:30pm, Saturday/Sunday 8:30am-4:30pm
TUITION
Register today.
Registration Deadline: June 15
Early Bird (Pay in full by May 1): $3,000
Standard (Pay in full by start of training): $3,200
BIPOC: $2,850
Payment Plan: $3,500
CONTACT
For questions regarding the training or your application, please email teachertraining@breathingroomct.com.